Fansided

NHL Playoffs 2017: First Round TV schedule

Jun 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) lifts the cup during the Stanley Cup championship parade and celebration in downtown Pittsburgh. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) lifts the cup during the Stanley Cup championship parade and celebration in downtown Pittsburgh. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL Playoffs are upon us! Here’s all you need to know about watching your favourite team in the first round.

Now that the NHL’s regular season has drawn to a close, fans are salivating at the prospect of a new year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Starting on Wednesday, April 12, 16 teams will be taking part in eight playoff series.

This year’s postseason features some very enticing matchups, including teams like the Edmonton Oilers making their return to the playoffs. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are back to defend their 2016 Stanley Cup championship, but they’ll have to get through the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets to do it.

Both sides of the bracket are jam-packed with Cup contenders, as the Chicago Blackhawks look to win yet another title, and teams like the San Jose Sharks andĀ Minnesota Wild remain in search of their first.

This year’s Canadian contingent is much stronger than last year’s, when not a single team from north of the border qualified. This season, teams like the Montreal Canadiens have a legitimate shot at challenging for the Stanley Cup.

Broadcasting for theĀ NHL Playoffs will be split acrossĀ NBC, NBCSN, USA, and the NHL Network in the United States, and Sportsnet and CBC in Canada.

Here’s the entire first-round TV schedule for the 2017 NHL Playoffs.

(All times EST)

SERIES A – Montreal CanadiensĀ (A1) vs. New York Rangers (W1)

Game 1:Ā April 12 @ Montreal – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 2: April 14Ā @ Montreal – 7 pm – USA, CBC
Game 3: April 16Ā @ New York – 7 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 18Ā @ New York – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
*Game 5: April 20Ā @ Montreal – TBD
*Game 6: April 22Ā @ New York – TBD
*Game 7:Ā April 24 @ Montreal – TBD

SERIES B – Ottawa SenatorsĀ (A2) vs. Boston BruinsĀ (A3)

Game 1: April 12 @ Ottawa – 7 pm – NHL Network, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 15 @ Ottawa – 3 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 17 @ BostonĀ -7 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 19 @ Boston – 7:30 pm – USA, Sportsnet
*Game 5: April 21 @ Ottawa – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Boston – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Ottawa – TBD

SERIES C – Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple LeafsĀ (W2)

Game 1: April 13Ā @ Washington – 7 pm – USA, CBC
Game 2: April 15Ā @ Washington – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 3:Ā April 17 @ Toronto – 7 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 4: April 19 @ Toronto – 7 pmĀ NBCSN, CBC
*Game 5:Ā April 21 @ Washington – TBD
*Game 6: April 23Ā @ Toronto – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Washington – TBD

SERIES D – Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3)

Game 1:Ā April 12 @ Pittsburgh – 7:30 pm – USA, Sportsnet 360
Game 2: April 14 @ Pittsburgh – 7 pm – NHL Network, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 16 @ Columbus – 6 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet 360
Game 4: April 18 @ Columbus – 7:30 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 20 @ Pittsburgh – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Pittsburgh – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Pittsburgh – TBD

SERIES E – Chicago Blackhawks (C1) vs. Nashville PredatorsĀ (W2)

Game 1:Ā April 13@ Chicago – 8 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 15 @ Chicago – 8 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 17 @ Nashville – 9:30 pm – CNBC, Sportsnet One
Game 4: April 20 @ Nashville – TBD – Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 22 @ Chicago – TBD
*Game 6: April 24 @ Nashville – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Chicago – TBD

SERIES F – Minnesota Wild (C2) vs.Ā St. Louis BluesĀ (C3)

Game 1: April 12Ā @ Minnesota – 9:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
Game 2: April 14 @ MinnesotaĀ -8 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
Game 3: April 16 @Ā St. Louis – 3 pm – NBC, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 19 @Ā St. Louis – 9:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet 360
*Game 5: April 22 @ Minnesota – TBD
*Game 6: April 24 @ St.Louis – TBD
*Game 7: April 26 @ Minnesota – TBD

SERIES G – Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Calgary FlamesĀ (W1)

Game 1: April 13 @ Anaheim – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 2: April 15 @ Anaheim – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 3: April 17 @ Calgary – 10 pm – NBCSN, CBC
Game 4: April 19 @ Calgary – 10 pm – USA, CBC
*Game 5: April 21 @ Anaheim – TBD
*Game 6: April 23 @ Calgary – TBD
*Game 7: April 25 @ Anaheim – TBD

SERIES H – Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

Game 1: April 12Ā @ Edmonton – 10 pm – USA, Sportsnet
Game 2: April 14 @ Edmonton – 10:30 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 3: April 16 @ San Jose – 10 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
Game 4: April 18 @ San Jose – 10 pm – NBCSN, Sportsnet
*Game 5: April 20 @ Edmonton – TBD
*Game 6: April 22 @ San Jose – TBD
*Game 7: April 24 @ Edmonton – TBD

* – if necessary

Next: 5 reasons why the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be amazing

Be sure to stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the latest news, rumors and results.